Article container



Ja. 15, 1963 J. w. ULLGER 3,073,506

' ARTICLE CONTAINER Filed March 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENToR.JsfP/f W da f?? Jan. l5, 1963 J. w. ULLGER ARTICLE CONTAINER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30. 1961 J INVENTOIL Jsf/f h! 0116 @j T-QVQJ.

3,073,506 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 3,073,506 ARTHCLE CONTAINER Joseph W.Ullger, Elkins Park, Pa., assigner to Boas Box A Company, Philadelphia,Pa., a company of Pennsyl- Vania Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 99,609

16 Ciaims. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to article containers andto blanks therefor. More particularly, this invention relates to articlecontainers and blanks therefor which containers are adapted to storagein a iiat collapsed form and to erection for use when needed.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article container and ablank therefor having a convenient round shape which yet may be easilyformed from a paper board blank 'and maintained in the collapsed stateprior to use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container which maybe indefinitely stored in a conveniently minimal volume of storagespace.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container'which maybe easily and quickly erected'from the collapsed state thereof for useas a container without the use of additional fasteners such as snaps,glue, staples or the like.

It is another object yof this invention to provide an article containerand blank therefor which incorporates reinforcing means at thebottomthereof whereby both strength and dependability are imparted thereto.

Other objects and attendant advatnages of the invention will appearhereinafter and from the drawings wherein:

FG. l is a plan view of a foldable blank for la hat box as provided inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the hat box blank having been partially folded;

FIG. 3 is a view of the hat box blank after a second folding;

FIG. 4 is a view of the hat box blank after a third and final folding;

FIG. 5 is a view of the folded blank taken as indicated by the lines andarrows V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a hat box erected from the collapsed blankof FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the erected hat box;

FIG. 8 is a view of the erected hat box taken as indicated by the linesand arrows VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in perspective of the erected hat box with a top coverplaced thereon, said top cover being partly broken away to show theinterior of the box;

FIG. l0 is a second View in perspective of the hat box and top coverthereof, as provided in accordance with this invention.

The following description is directed to the specific form andembodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings and is notintended to limit the scope of the invention itself which may bepracticed in a Wide variety of forms and arrangements.

Adverting herewith to the specific form of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, a blank 10, of which the v inner face is shown in FiG. l,is formed of an elongated paperboard body which comprises a side wallarea including side wall portions A and B, a fold portion area includingfold portions C and D, a bottom area including bottom portions E and Fand reinforcing strip portions G and H and an end tab area including endtab portions I and J. Side wall portions A and B are bounded laterallyby edges 11, 1'2 and 13, 14 respectively. Longitudinally, the side wallportion A is bounded by a terminal edge v1'5 which is also the terminallongitudinal edge of the blank 10 and, on the other longitudinal sidethereof, by a transverse score or crease line 16 which is also alongitudinal boundary of side wall portion B. At

the opposite end thereof, side wall portion B is bounded by fold portionC which is divided from the aforesaid side wall portion by a transversescore or crease line 17. Side wall portion B is further boundedlongitudinally by an edge .18 which is on a line extended from scoreline i7. Fold portion C is also further bounded by a terminal edge 19laterally thereof and a terminal edge 2d longitudinally thereof. As maybe seen in FIG. l, fold portion D is of generally triangular shape anddisposed laterally of fold portion C, being divided therefrom by alongitudinal perforated score line 22 and having an oblique terminaledge 23. Bottom portions E and F are laterally bounded by semicircularedges 25 and 26, respectively, and are also respectively divided fromreinforcing strip portions G and H by longitudinal perforated scorelines 28 and 29. Respectively formed in the semicircular boundary edges25 and 26 are projecting tab portions 31 and 32 and 33 and 34. Inaddition, a hemispherical indentation 35 is formed in the semicircularboundary edge 25 of the bottom portion E. Reinforcing strip portions Gand I-I are separated by a longitudinal perforated score line 37 and arebounded longitudinally by transverse score lines 38 and 39 and 40 and4.1, respectively. The score line 38 divides fold portion C fromreinforcing strip portion G and the score line 40 ldivides fold portionD from the reinforcing strip portion H. At the extreme longitudinal endof the blank 10, end tab portions I and .l are respectively bounded byterminal edges 43 and 44. End tab portions I and I are further boundedlaterally by edges 45 and 46 and are divided by a longitudinalperforated score line 47.

Formed in the body of side wall portionrA are generally rectangularspaces and 51 for the reception of locking tabs, the function of whichis to be explained more fully hereinafter. Likewise, rectangular spaces52 and 53 are formed in the body of side wall portion B.

Relatively small circular openings 55 and 56 are formed at the boundaryof side wall portions A and B, having their centers on the score line16. Similarly, circular openings 58 and 59 are formed at the boundary ofside wall portion B and fold portion C having their centers on scoreline 17. The purpose and function of the aforesaid circular openingswill be explained more `fully hereinafter.

As may ibe seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the side wall portions A andB comprise the circular wall of the container in its erect state and thebottom portions E and F form the bottom thereof. As may `best be seen inFIGS. 7, 8 and 10, reinforcing strips G and H form a reinforcing ridge61 across `the center of the bottom of the container.

Ordinarily, -a hat box as provided in accordance with this invention isprovided with a top cover or lid 62 having a circular top surface 63 anda circular side surface 64 which lits over the top of the box so thatthe side surface 64 of the lid lies adjacent to the side walls A and Band overlaps the top edges 11 land 13 thereof.

As may be seen in FIGS. 9 and l0, `a cord 65 is provided for theretention of the top cover 62 to the side walls A and B.

The shaded areas and 71 on the inner face of the blank 10 as seen inFIGS. 1 and 3 and the shaded areas 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 on theouter face of the blank 10 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 are provided for theapplication of adhesive to the blank in a manner and for a purpose whichwill become more yfully apparent hereinafter.

A collapsed fiat container for hats and the like is formed from theblank 10 in successive stages as follows:

Firstly, Aadhesive is applied to the area 70 on the inner face of theblank 10 and subsequently, the blank 10 is folded along the score line17 so that fold areas C and D, reinforcing strip portions G and H,bottom prtions E and F and end tab portions I and I are brought abovethe score line 17 as seen in FIG. 2. When the blank has been folded asaforedescribed, the perforated score line 37 becomes coincident with apart of the length of the edge 14 of the side wall portion B and theinner faces of fold portion C, end tab. portion I, reinforcing stripportion G and bottom portion E are adjacent and abut the inner face ofside wall area B. Adhesive is now applied to the shaded areas 72, 73,74, 75 and 76 of the outer face of the blank as shown in FIG. 2.

Secondly, the blank 10 is again folded along the perforated longitudinalscore line 37 so that the terminal edges 44 and 46 of end tab portion Ibecome coincident respectively with the terminal edges 43 and 45 of endtab portion I, so that the score line 29 becomes coincident with thescore line 28, so that the semicircular boundary edge 26 becomescoincident with the semi-circular boundary edge 25 and so the projectingta'b portions 33 and 34 are respectively superposed upon projecting tabportions 31 and 32. When the blank 10 has been so folded, the outer faceof end tab portion J is adjacent and abuts the outer face of end tabportion I, the outer face of bottom portion lF is adjacent and abuts theouter face of bottom portion E and the outer -face of reinforcing stripportion H is adjacent and abuts the outer face of reinforcing stripportion G. It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the outer face of foldportion D likewise is adjacent and abuts a portion of the outer face offold portion C. Adhesive is now again applied to the `blank 10 on theshaded areas 71 and 77 which are respectively the inner and outer facesof fold portions D and C.

Thirdly, the blank is again folded along the score line 16 so that theterminal edges 11, 12 and 15 of side wall area A become respectivelycoincident with the terminal edges 13 and 14- and the bounding scoreline 17 of side wall area B. When the blank 10 has been thus folded, theinner faces of fold portion D, of end tab portion I, of reinforcingstrip portion H and bottom portion lF are adjacent and abut the innerface of side wall area A. Likewise, the outer face of fold portion C isadjacent and abuts the inner face of side wall area A. It will beevident that the aforesaid opposing faces are caused to adhere by reasonof the adhesive applied to the areas 71 and 77. As may be seen in FIG.4, the circular openings 55 and 56 and the circular openings 58 and 59are disposed at opposite longitudinal ends of the folded blank.

The blank as thus folded and glued forms a collapsed, at container whichmay be sto-red in that state and is ready for tinal erection at any timeit is desired to use `the container. When the adhesive used to securethe various parts of the folded blank has thoroughly dried, the flat,collapsed container formed thereby may be erected as follows:

Firstly, the collapsed container is grasped at the opposite longitudinaledges and 16 thereof, as seen in FIG. 4, so that edges 11 and 13 of theside walls A and B respectively Iare upward and so that the edges 12 and14 of side walls A and B respectively. are downward. When viewed in thisposition, the container appears as shown in FIG. 5. Pressure is appliedmanually to the opposite longitudinal edges 15 and 16 of the containerto force the walls A `and B outward until a generally circularconfiguration is formed by the walls A andB.

Secondly, bottom portion E is folded along the score line 2S so that thesemicircular boundary edge 25 abuts the semicircular wall B and,likewise, the bottom portion F is folded along the score line 29 so thatthe semicircular boundary edge 26 abuts the semicircular wall A. Theedges and 26 of bottom portions E and F are forced downward until bothbottom portions E and F lie in the same plane and so that projectingtabs 31 and 32 of bottom portion E enter the rectangular slots 53 and 52respectively, in the wall B and so that the projecting tabs 33 and 34 ofbottom portion F respectively enter the rectangular slots 51 and 50 ofwall A. In the position described, the bottom portions E and F lie in aplane which is perpendicular to the Walls 'A and B of the container. Asmay best be seen in FIG. l0, when the container has been erected asaforedescribed, the bottom portions E and F lie above the lower edges 12and 14 of the walls A and B respectively, thereby providing a space atthe base of the container, across which there extends the reinforcingstrip 61 Which comprises a double thickness of paperboard, or the like,formed by the adjacent glued reinforcing strip portions G and H of theblank. Should it be desired to collapse the container again, thesemicircular indentation in the boundary edge 25 of the bottom portion Emay be conveniently used as a nger hold.

As may be seen in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the top cover G2 is secured to theerected box by means of a cord 65 which is threaded through the circularopenings 58 and 59 of the one side of the container and through openings55 and 56 of the opposite side thereof, and may be conveniently tied orfastened above the top surface 63 of the lid 62.

Although this invention has been described with reference to specificforms and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that a great number ofvariations may be.

made without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention.For example, parts may be reversed, equivalent elements may besubstituted for those specilically disclosed, and certain features ofthe invention may be used independently of other features, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A blank for an article container comprising a generally elongatedpaperboard body having a side Wall area, a fold portion area, a bottomarea and an end tab area, said areas being integrally connected anddisposed successively along said blank longitudinally thereof, saidareas being divided by transverse score lines disposed serially acrosssaid blank, said side wall areas including a pair of side wall portionsseparated by a score line, each of said side wall portions having aplurality of longitudinally spaced slots disposed therein, said bottomarea including a pair of bottom portions and a pair of reinforcing stripportions, said bottom and reinforcing strip portions being divided by atleast three score lines extending longitudinally of said bottom area,said bottom areas having arcuate lateral bounds, said bounds having aplurality of projecting tabs extending outwardly therefrom, saidprojecting tabs having a diameter approximately equal to or less thanthe longitudinal diameter of said slots of said side wall portions.

i 2. The blank defined in claim l wherein said fold portion areaincludes a pair of fold portions divided by a longtiudinally extendingscore line, one of said fold portions having a generally rectangularshape and the other of said fold portions having a generally triangularshape.

3. The blank defined in claim 2 wherein said reinforcing strip areaincludes a pair of fold portions divided by a longitudinally extendingscore line, said reinforcing strip portions each being bounded laterallyby a bottom portion.

4. The blank defined in claim 3 wherein said end tab area includes apair of irregularly shaped end tab portions divided by a longitudinallyextending score line, each of said end tab portions being integrallyconnected to a reinforcing strip portion.

5. The blank defined in claim 4 wherein each of said longitudinallyextending score lines is a perforated score line.

6. The blank defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of circular holesare formed at the boundary between said side wall portions and wherein aplurality of circular openings are formed at the boundary between one ofsaid side wall portions and said fold portion area.

7. An article container comprising a circular wall, a discrete circularbottom contained within said wall, reinforcing means disposed beneathsaid bottom and integrally connected thereto, an end tab area integralwith said reinforcing means at one end thereof, a fold area integralwith said reinforcing means at an opposite end thereof, said reinforcingmeans extending between opposing parts of said Wall and being integrallyconnected to said wall at one end thereof by said fold area and a foldline, said reinforcing means being connected to said wall at theopposite end thereof by said tab area, and means on the periphery ofsaid bottom for securing said bottom to said wall at spaced intervals.

8. The container defined in claim 7 wherein said means for securing saidbottom to said wall comprises circumferentially extending slots formedin said wall and projecting tabs adapted to t into said slots formed onthe periphery of said Ibottom.

9. The container defined in claim 8 wherein said fold area and said endtab are adhesively secured to said wall.

l0. The container defined in claim 7 wherein said bottom is spaced awayfrom the base of said container and wherein said reinforcing meanscomprises a relatively rigid strip of paperboard material having abouttwice the thickness of said wall and extending from said bottom to thebase of said Wall.

1l. The c-ontainer defined in claim 10 wherein said reinforcing stripcomprises two strips of paperboard ma- 14. The claim defined in claim l1wherein said lid securing means comprises a cord threaded through saidopenings in said wall.

15. An article container comprising a circular wall, ay

discrete bottom disposed within said wall and spaced from a bottom edgeof said Wall, reinforcing means disposed beneath said bottom andintegrally connected thereto, a fold area, said reinforcing means beingintegrally connected to one end of said fold area, the other end of saidfold area being integrally connected to said wall at a fold line, meansfor releasably interconnecting a periphery of said bottom to said wallat spaced intervals, and said wall, fold area and reinforcing meansbeing an integral one piece member.

16. A container in accordance with claim 15 wherein said bottom includestwo semi-circular portions, each semi-circular portion beinginterconnected with said reinforcing means by a fold line enabling saidsemi-circular portions to be folded toa disposition so that they may liein substantially parallel planes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl782,544 Carrier Feb. 14, 1905 947,179 Jenkins Ian. 18, 1910 1,362,129Morris Dec. 14, 1920 2,226,178 Page Dec. 24, 1940

1. A BLANK FOR AN ARTICLE CONTAINER COMPRISING A GENERALLY ELONGATEDPAPERBOARD BODY HAVING A SIDE WALL AREA, A FOLD PORTION AREA, A BOTTOMAREA AND AN END TAB AREA, SAID AREAS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED ANDDISPOSED SUCCESSIVELY ALONG SAID BLANK LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAIDAREAS BEING DIVIDED BY TRANSVERSE SCORE LINES DISPOSED SERIALLY ACROSSSAID BLANK, SAID SIDE WALL AREAS INCLUDING A PAIR OF SIDE WALL PORTIONSSEPARATED BY A SCORE LINE, EACH OF SAID SIDE WALL PORTIONS HAVING APLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SLOTS DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID BOTTOMAREA INCLUDING A PAIR OF BOTTOM PORTIONS AND A PAIR OF REINFORCING STRIPPORTIONS, SAID BOTTOM AND REINFORCING STRIP PORTIONS BEING DIVIDED BY ATLEAST THREE SCORE LINES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BOTTOM AREA,SAID BOTTOM AREAS HAVING ARCUATE LATERAL BOUNDS, SAID BOUNDS HAVING APLURALITY OF PROJECTING TABS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAIDPROJECTING TABS HAVING A DIAMETER APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO OR LESS THANTHE LONGITUDINAL DIAMETER OF SAID SLOTS OF SAID SIDE WALL PORTIONS.